CV on 58 Panhead

I’ve got a CV carb on my 58 panhead Harley. I’ve had it on the bike for about 7 years, but the bike was apart for the last 1 &1/2 years. When I first put it on the bike, it started much easier (important on a kick start only bike)

Since I put it back together the cold starts have been difficult. Last time I rode it leaked gas from the air cleaner when parked. Since the only thing I didn’t do while the bike was apart was clean/rebuild the carb, I decided that it’s time to do so.

The bike started well cold and hot before (and still does hot). The performance and MPG was not great, but still better than the stock Linkert. I would like to s see if performance and MPG can be improved.
The motor is stock 74 inch with .030 pistons and stock FL cam. The air breather is a modified SE with K & N filter. The carb has a pressed on manifold adapter. Exhaust is true dual with Paughco 29" shark fin mufflers.
Any advice you can offer, especially slide needle/emulsion tube recommendations would be appreciated.
I can’t remember what size jets are in the carb, but will disassemble it in the next few days to find out.
I live 30 miles from your Tampa Falkenburg road address in Zephyrhills, FL. Do you sell parts at that location?

from your previous description sounds like your needle and seat on float were stuck!if gas was pouring from air cleaner . stick with the main jet and drop the slow speed jet down a bit for light throttle cruise area maybe a 42 if she gives ya trouble go back to the 45 .clean her up good and throw a cv performance rebuild kit in it .chances are no markings on needle at all .could be aftermarket ? got a pic of needleyou can post?

I would imagine that cleaning it will help,
get the insides clean, blow air through jets
set the idle mix screw out about 2. 5 turns from
bottom, and make sure the intake is sealed up.

If gas was coming out of the filter like BP says the float
was stuck open, you need to change the oil in the bike
as well, if gas was running out the front you can be darn
sure it was running down the intake into the intake valves
and if the valves were open it was running down into the cylinders.

4 qts of fresh oil is cheaper than a rebuild.

If you are not running any vac off the carb be
sure any carb ports are capped and that the caps
you have are not cracked/weathered.

I've seen where they look fine but when you took
the cap off it disintegrated from the heat exposure.

I'm sure once the carb has been cleaned and reassembled with new rebuild kit the leaking problem will be solved. The bike started easily before and I'm sure will again after reassembly. The slide diaphragm is pretty dirty, I'm not sure I can clean it without damaging it. I'm going to replace it with a new CVP slide assembly and slide spring.
I'm posting some pictures of the needle , although they are not very good. No ID marks on the needle. The needle had pits or corrosion on it's shaft that I removed with Scotchbrite. I want to replace the needle, but not sure which one would be best.
As I said in my original post, the bike started (and idled) good, but I'd like to improve the performance and MPG.
Any advice would be appreciated.
Thanks , RedPanEd

I'd just run that needle and setup, jets sound
about right if it's starting easy and idles well

Most non HD needles have a sharper taper
allowing more fuel to get through the main
jet when opening the throttle, few are designed
to improve mileage, most power delivery.

When you get it running you can turn the idle screw
in until it stumbles, then back out it should smooth
out, then as you go further the engine will stumble again.

Mid point between the two stumble points is where
you want to be. It should end up about 2.5 turns from
bottom if the pilot jet is correct. Don't crank it down
to the bottom, just lightly touch when turning it in
to count turns from the sweet spot, you can damage the
carb if you overtighten the screw.

If you have to turn the screw out more than 3 to 4 turns
to get to the sweet spot the idle jet is too small, if you make
adjustments and it doesn't change or is 1 turn out the idle jet
is too large.

Either would work, the N65 is a bit richer needle
so it's going to provide a bit more fuel on acceleration
which would nullify the MPG goal but help the performance
goal provided the main jet is properly sized